The Worst Deja’Vu’

There is one sentence you never wanna hear a family member or loved one say, “I have cancer”. It’s a reality we are all faced with, that someone in our life will discover they have cancer. In the midst of this discovery several sobering questions will arise….. 

What stage is it?....Did they catch it early?...... Was it contained?.......What’s the course of treatment? and my least favorite question “What’s the survival rate…”.

The feeling of deja’vu’ came over me a few months ago when during a checkup and Lincoln doctor I got a random phone call from my mother. Instantly I could hear in her voice that she was trying to sound optimistic, but that something was wrong.  

To give you a little history, it’s only been 2 years since I got a very similar phone call from my father. To tell me that in less than 24 hours he was having a massive tumor removed, in a surgery I later learned was called the whipple, to battle his very aggressive pancreatic cancer.  A procedure that only 20% are eligible for, and is extremely risky. Luckily for all of us, he survived and did beautifully. And now, with the help of his oncologist and doctors and by God's grace, his tests keep coming back clean. 

Being aware of how quickly cancer can spread, my mother has been proactive in her own screenings. Earlier this year during a routing mammogram her doctor discovered a small mass, and had it biopsied. This was not her first biopsy, but the first one that came back malignant (cancerous).  

She wasted no time scheduling a surgery, to remove the mass and test her lymph nodes.  Which leads up to the phone call I received the afternoon of February 5^th. My mom was calling to let me know she in fact had cancer, but that they caught it early. 

I am happy to report, after her recovery and meeting with her oncologist, my mom is cancer free. The mass was so small in-fact, the majority was taken by the biopsy. So they are only recommending 5 weeks of radiation.  I share this, because it’s not uncommon for caregivers, and family members to take a backseat to their own personal health when caring for a loved one. If my mom had done this, while helping my dad through recovery, there is no way we would have caught it this early.

Additionally, most people arnt aware that if you have a family history of cancer, insurance will cover additionally screenings. My mom is the 4th woman in my family to have been diagnosed with breast cancer. So, not only will I be electing to have yearly monograms moving forward, but we are looking into genetic testing.

I share this, because life can get so busy that we forget to take care of ourselves. Well, life is short....so please, take care of yourself, get check ups, screenings so you can spend more time enjoying what little precious time we have left.

Xoxo-

 

#LetsGo60Days – The Results

I spent some time reflexing on my personal challenge, because the inches I lost don't even begin to explain how my life has changed.  When I started this challenge I had let myself go. In November I started a new full time desk job, life got busy and my health became my last priority. Not only did I gain weight, but I started to feel very uncomfortable and I had no energy. For those of you who know me, that last part should come as a shocker.

It can be a slippery slope; first…you skip the gym for a few weeks. Next, you start eating out every night. All the sudden your life is a series of lazy, unproductive days and you don’t recognize yourself.

I decided to take control of this vicious cycle, and see what would happen if I finally did all the “things” I’ve never been able to stick with. Well, I will let you all be the judge, but I can tell you I’ve never been happier for sticking to a goal!

Day #1

Measurements (Inches)

Chest: 36

Arms: 10

Waist: 31.5

Hips: 39.5

Thigh: 22.5

Day #60

Measurements (Inches)

Chest: 32

Arms: 10.5

Waist: 27

Hips: 35.5

Thigh: 21

Total - 13.5 Inches LOST!

Lessoned Learned

When I set out on this journey, my goals were simple…attainable. Workout 4 days a week, eat clean and drink plenty of water. Most important, find that happier version of myself. What I realized 1/3 of the way in was to see results, REAL results, it took more. The four things I finally did paid off!

1. Supplements & Protein:   Pre workout drinks, vitamins and protein shakes. Three things i’ve always consumed, sporadically.  Something that drove my husband NUTS! Now, after using all three together every day, I understand how important they are to your body. Not only do I feel stronger, have cut my cravings in half and i've seen less injury and recovered faster.
2. Lifting Plan: Ahhh the weight room, we have always been acquaintances, but never besties. Now I know what it feels like to stick to a 4 day split, and have a new found comfort level with that section of the gym. I feel stronger and I’m seeing definition I haven’t seen in years!
3. Photos & Measurements – In case no one has told you, muscle weighs more than fat and scales LIE! In 60 days, I lost 3 lbs. If that was my only measure of success, I never would have made it this far.
4. Nutrition Coach – We all know the 80/20 rule, along with a million clique sayings like “You can’t out train a bad diet.” This has always been my struggle. I love food! Rich food, carbs and my portions… out of control! So I decided to call in a professional, my good friend Josh Winkler. Josh is a Fitness Coach, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, and he and his wife Tiffany own NewLife Active and NewLife Cafés. You may recognize him from the Face of ReebokONE contest, where he was a semifinalist. He not only held me accountable, but he showed me what I was doing wrong. All this time I thought carbs were my problem! Turns out it was lack of protein, an excess of fat…and carbs. He taught me how to track my food, meal prep and carb cycle. Now I’m learning how to eat for MY BODY. No diet will ever teach you this. Only working with someone who will support you, inform you and be honest.

As a bonus, in the middle of my challenge I was invited to be a part of SkinnyMom's Real Moms #Iam Campaign. This campaign centers around reflecting a positive body image, for real moms who are looking to redefine SuperModel. 

Now with this challenge complete, words cannot describe how much better I feel. I am excited to go to the gym, chase around Lincoln and getting out of bed is so much easier. Completing everyday tasks comes with ease, and I love the way I feel. With this new found energy I am committing to making this my lifestyle, by continuing to step up my game. So with a new month, and a new goal…I hope you will find my insight useful, and your own goal to shoot for. But remember, these things take time. So don't give up!

Photo Credit - MyfitnessPal

We only get one life, why not make it every second count! 

Xoxo –